Somali National News Agency
So
Ar
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
    Local NewsShow More
    Somali Minister of Ports Joins Global Leaders at Istanbul Transport Connectivity Forum
    June 27, 2025
    Djibouti Erupts in Grand Celebration Marking 47 Years of Independence
    June 27, 2025
    President Hassan Sheikh Sends Congratulatory Message to Djibouti, Reaffirming Strong Bilateral Ties
    June 27, 2025
    Djibouti Marks 48th Anniversary of Independence Amidst Celebrations and Historical Reflection
    June 27, 2025
    Joint Somalia Operation Decimates Al-Shabaab Leadership Hub and Arms Cache in Aden Yabaal
    June 27, 2025
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Protests intensify in Los Angeles after Trump deploys hundreds of National Guard troops
    June 9, 2025
    31 Palestinians are killed heading to a Gaza aid site, witnesses say. Israel denies responsibility
    June 7, 2025
    Hajj Season 1446 AH: Synergy Between Technology and Humanity in Serving the Guests of Allah
    June 6, 2025
    Machine Gun, AK-47 Rifles Recovered as 4 Al-Shabaab Terrorists are Killed in Garissa
    June 3, 2025
    Israel kills 2 Gaza aid seekers as UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’
    May 31, 2025
  • Articles
    ArticlesShow More
    Reviving Somalia’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector: A Path Toward Economic Resilience and Cultural Renaissance
    June 21, 2025
    Somalia’s Strategic Path in a Resurgent China-Africa Partnership
    June 12, 2025
    Remarks on Somalia’s participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
    June 13, 2025
    Hajj Season 1446 AH: Synergy Between Technology and Humanity in Serving the Guests of Allah
    June 6, 2025
    Wind power turbines line a mountain range in Ji’an, Jiangxi province, July 9, 2022.
    What China’s climate action means for the planet’s future?
    June 5, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Somalia Unveils the Blueprint for a Modern and Sustainable Mogadishu
    December 21, 2024
    Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change
    November 25, 2024
    FM meets Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
    October 28, 2024
    President Hassan Sheikh Inaugurates New LPG Storage Center in Mogadishu
    May 12, 2024
    Collaboration of ICT transformation for digital Infrastructure
    October 24, 2023
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Mogadishu Stadium to Host Star-Studded Match Featuring Somali Legends and International Football Icons
    May 27, 2025
    Arsenal held at Brighton while Man City bounce-back continues
    January 5, 2025
    Galmudug wins the Inter-State Football Tournament
    January 29, 2024
    Somalia set for two int’l friendlies ahead of WC qualifier clashes against Algeria and Uganda
    October 10, 2023
    Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver
    October 3, 2023
  • Tenders
    TendersShow More
    Quay Renovation Works – Supply and Installation of Fenders and Bollards
    April 11, 2025
Reading: Thousands turn out in Canada for funeral of Muslim family
Share
Font ResizerAa
Somali National News AgencySomali National News Agency
  • SOMALI
  • ARABIC
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
Follow US
©2023 || All rights reserved SONNA
Somali National News Agency > Blog > News > Thousands turn out in Canada for funeral of Muslim family
NewsWorld News

Thousands turn out in Canada for funeral of Muslim family

By admin
Last updated: June 13, 2021
5 Min Read
Share

They came by the thousands Saturday to pay respects to four members of a Muslim family brutally killed when a half-ton truck deliberately smashed into them while they were out for a Sunday evening walk in Ontario, Canada.

Madiha Salman, 44, her husband Salman Afzaal, 46, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal, and Salman’s 74-year-old mother Talat Afzaal never returned home from that stroll in London, Ontario.

Madiha was a PhD student, Salman a physiotherapist who worked with seniors, Yumna an honor roll student at a Muslim school, and Talat an artist and schoolteacher.

The couple’s son, Fayez Afzaal, alone survived what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeled a terrorist attack.

A 20-year-old suspected of driving the truck is in jail, charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Lying in hospital recovering from serious injuries, 9-year-old Fayez knows he lost his father, mother, sister, and grandmother. He knows he has been orphaned because of what police said was a premeditated, hate-motivated crime, the victims easy to pick out wearing different garb and having darker skin than most in their predominately white city.

“He’s healing,” family friend Yasmin Khan said of Fayez, but added we don’t know what is yet to come.

 

‘Entire nation stands with them’

Among the mourners were other family members who arrived in the city of 400,000 southwest of Toronto from Pakistan, the country the Afzaal family emigrated from 14 years ago, and other family members from Australia.

They were not alone, as thousands lined the streets as the funeral procession passed by and hundreds gathered for the public service held at the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, which lasted about an hour. The four coffins placed in front of the service were all draped in the Canadian Maple Leaf flag.

Pakistan’s high commissioner from Pakistan to Canada noted that they mean “the entire Canadian nation stands with them.”

Ed Holder, the mayor of London, did not speak at the ceremony but was interviewed live and said he was “not surprised at the thousands and thousands here today.”

Gazing around, Holder said: “This is too heartbreaking.”

People were asked to wear purple and green ribbons. Purple was Yumna’s favorite color, and green is a color often associated with Islam.

Speakers told of the kindness of the family, their generosity and community involvement. It was a family destroyed by hate simply because of their religion, authorities said.

Marches were held in cities across the country on Saturday, and that was appreciated, said a local imam.

The size of the London Muslim community is about 30,000, and the funeral is seen as a step towards healing.

“We are grateful for everything that has happened since that horrific tragedy,” Aarij Anwer told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation before Saturday’s funeral services. “We’re looking forward to having some closure on Saturday.”

 

Islamophobia summit

After the public ceremony, the family departed for a private burial service at the Islamic Cemetery.

Memorial services in other Canadian cities were also held over the weekend.

The federal government said Friday it will convene a summit on Islamophobia by the end of July, a summit demanded by many in the aftermath of the tragedy. And the Ontario provincial government passed a motion Saturday morning condemning Islamophobia.

It is not the first time multiple Muslims have been targeted and murdered in Canada.

Four years ago, six men were shot to death as they worshipped at the Quebec City Mosque, and 19 were wounded.

The funeral was aired live on Canadian TV news stations and streamed on websites.

Source:Anadul agency

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

MORE NEWS

Official Reopening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives

CultureEducationLocal News
November 23, 2024

Kenya’s small farmers find respite in avocados amid changing climate

NAIROBI(SONNA) As crop diseases and pests rise in Kenya amid a rapidly changing climate that…

March 11, 2023

Al-Shabaab Mafia Inc.: The Groundbreaking Somali-Led Revelation That Shattered the Terrorist Group’s Secrecy

Editorial Review, SONNA — on Al-Shabaab Mafia Inc: The Book Al-Shabaab Swore to Burn Al-Shabaab…

June 28, 2025

Nimcaan Hilaac appointed to lead Waberi National Band

Mogadishu (SONNA)-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed…

March 3, 2020

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Malaysia to step up efforts to help youth success

Kuala Lumpur (SONNA) -The Malaysian government will step up efforts to help youth succeed in education under Budget 2021, said…

NewsWorld News
August 3, 2020

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS ELECTIONS, SECURITY AND ECONOMIC ISSUES

Baidoa – On a visit to Somalia’s South West State today, representatives of some of the country’s key international partners highlighted the…

News
October 15, 2020

Somali Prime Minister received UK ambassador to Somalia

Mogadishu (SONNA):The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia HE Mohamed Hussein Roble received UK ambassador to Somalia HE…

Local NewsNewsWorld News
February 15, 2021

The 3rd Turkey-Africa Summit has officially opens in Istanbul

Istanbul(SONNA):The 3rd Turkey-Africa Summit has officially opened in Istanbul on Friday at the Ministerial level to discuss the key areas…

Local NewsNewsWorld News
December 17, 2021

Somali National News Agency established in 1964. It is one of the main pillars of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
  • SNTV
  • RADIO MOGADISHU
  • DALKA JOURNAL
  • TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Follow US: 

  • MoICT
  • VILLA SOMALIA
  • OPM SOMALIA

All rights reserved SONNA

©2023

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?